NDP say Grits forgot key EUB reform

Published Thursday July 29th, 2010, Times & Transcript Staff, Page A8

Party says efficiency officer should oversee all aspects of NB Power's operations

FREDERICTON - The provincial New Democrats say the Liberals have tried to trump their ideas on reforming the Energy and Utilities Board (EUB), but left out what the NDP are calling a key point.

Roger Duguay says the NDP announced five EUB reforms hours before the Liberals announced their own reforms on Tuesday.

Both the NDP and Liberals say they want all power rate increases, regardless of size, to be subject to EUB approval. Currently, only rate hikes of three per cent or more must be approved by the EUB.
As well, both parties say they want to ban government from reversing or modifying any board decisions dealing with power rate approvals.

Duguay said a key NDP reform to the EUB, not mentioned by the Liberals, included the creation of an efficiency officer which would oversee every aspect of NB Power's operations and report to government within six months on efficiencies that could be found within the utility.

The Liberals have spoken for months about wanting to strengthen the EUB, mentioning their concerns about anything less than a three per cent rate increase getting a free pass.

The Liberals said their EUB plans are the result of public feedback received after the release of an options paper last month that asked for input on strengthening the board.

But Duguay said if the Grit's were truly serious about reforming the EUB, it would have happened sooner than a month before the beginning of a provincial election.

"They've had four years to change the EUB," he said.